Retitled Loftus Jones--descending run

Jon-M · Post by **Jon-M** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 9:03 am

I've been learning O'Carolan's Loftus Jones on an A whistle and am having difficulty with the fast descending run in the B part. It goes like this:
d'dd'd c'dc'd|bdbd adad

Anyone have any tips on how to get this to be quick but precise? Fingering's not a problem but rather how to control the sound on the large interval jumps.
Thanks for any help.
JM

Whitmores75087 · Post by **Whitmores75087** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 11:56 am

O'Carolan does this to us sometimes. I cheat on stuff like this. I drop out some notes. Maybe some day I'll be good enough to include them again.

ThorntonRose · Post by **ThorntonRose** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:05 pm

Try tongueing the octave jumps (or even more). Some people would not consider that "traditional", but given that the original music was composed for harp, each note would have had some articulation. Also, listen to Joanie Madden on "Song of the Irish Whistle". She does a great version of Loftus Jones.

Scott McCallister · Post by **Scott McCallister** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 2:13 pm

Most of the time I suggest that stuff like this is a player issue but sometimes with jumps like this, the right whistle can do amazing things for you.

I tried a Silkstone D+ this past winter and was floored by the agility and consistency of the whistle. Very even, very predictable.

good luck!

Jon-M · Post by **Jon-M** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 3:47 pm

Thanks for the replies so far. Out of curiosity, I tried it out on my D+ Silkstone and, lot and behold! It was much easier to play. Sadly, the tune is in A and my Overton A is not nearly as responsive.

chas · Post by **chas** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 6:51 pm

Go ahead and play it in D (same fingerings as on an A whistle, but on a D whistle). People do that all the time with Carolan tunes. I never played Hewlett in A till I got a Baroque flute.

Jon-M · Post by **Jon-M** » Mon Jul 24, 2006 8:41 pm

Yes, I could do that, but I have to say, I haven't found the whistle yet where that third octave D (prominent in the tune) isn't a screecher.